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‘Tis the season to buy a case of wine for the holidays and to appease every kind of wine drinker in your family or at your Friendsgiving. With the ever-changing wine world, however, some classic holiday wines are entering the luxury price tier. We asked local wine experts to expand our palates and recommend some wines “outside the box,” with a focus on value price points (less than $25 per bottle.) To keep it fun, we added a “flavor profile cheat sheet” in each section: “Fruit Forward” and “Earthy or Savory.” Try these wines to impress your whole invite list.
(Prices may vary)
WHITES: Fruit-Forward
Courtesy of The Wine Merchant
2021 Bodegas Ponce / Manchuela, Spain / Grape: Albilla Reto / $24.99
"Juan António Ponce claims this is the 'best vintage of this wine so far,' according to Wine Advocate. "'It was produced with the local Albilla grape, a grape that can transmit an incredible sense of freshness in a warm place like Manchuela. This is sharp and austere, mineral and electric when young, with an intense salinity and a vibrant and electric finish. Unbelievable for the price. 95 Points.'” It's elegant and refined with green apple, stone fruits, green tea, and bright minerality. It's made from 60- to 70-year-old vines!” —Jason Main, The Wine Merchant, Clayton
Courtesy of The Wine and Cheese Place
2020 Medimer / Southern France / Grape: Viognier / $13.99
"Viognier is often overlooked as one of turkey's greatest matches. It's fruity and floral, with juicy stone fruit flavors. The fruit and honey characteristics are ideal with tender turkey meat." —Paul Hayden, The Wine and Cheese Place, Clayton location
2021 Thistle and Weed "In Pieces" / Stellenbosch, South Africa/ Grape: Chenin Blanc / $21
“In Pieces Chenin Blanc shows notes of brioche, bright apple, pear and all held by acidity, which will cut through the rich foods of Thanksgiving. It's beautiful, bright and crisp!” —Brian Hobbs, Chateau Maplewood, Maplewood
WHITES: Savory or Earthy
Courtesy of Grapevine Wines
2020 Cantina di Venosa "Verbo" / Basilicata, Italy / Grape: Malvasia / $16.99
"It's fruit-forward but also interestingly savory… Malvasia is an intensely aromatic grape, and the bouquet practically leaps out of the glass. Orange blossom and apricot notes mingle with the rich beeswax texture, making the perfect complement to savory stuffing, sweet potatoes, and roast turkey." —Aaron Sherman, Grapevine Wines, Kirkwood
2021 Dr. Konstantin Frank / Finger Lakes, New York / Grape: Gewürztraminer / $18.99
“I was born on Thanksgiving, so it’s my favorite holiday. It’s also the largest wine-drinking holiday in the U.S. That’s right, more bottles are opened on Turkey Day than any other. Dr. Frank was the first (in 1958) to successfully plant European grape varieties (Vitis vinifera) on America’s East Coast. New York’s Finger Lakes microclimate makes it ideal for Northern European varieties, such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer, and we love the Frank Gewurztraminer. It’s more fruity than sweet (13% ABV) with a rich, savory character that’s enhanced by the slightly spicy component of the grape. This will work with virtually any dish on the Thanksgiving table." —John Nash, Starr’s, Richmond Heights
ORANGE / ROSÉ: Fruit-Forward
Courtesy of The Wine and Cheese Place
2021 Gulp/Hablo / Castilla-La Mancha, Spain (Orange Wine) / Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo / $18.99 per liter (orange wine)
"If you’re looking for lighter fare or a first wine to get Thanksgiving started, then consider the Gulp Hablo amber blend. There's tropical fruit, nectarines, and flowers and juicy acidity to boot. If they made Vino Verde for fall, then this would be it." —Austin, The Wine and Cheese Place, Clayton location
REDS: Fruit-Forward
John Nash at Starr’s shares this advice for wine temperatures on Thanksgiving: “Watch the service temps on the wine. Your house is packed with people, and you’re adding additional heat by cooking all day. American room temp for red wines is too warm (every day), and American refrigerator temp is too cold for white wines. I always recommend the 'French 1-2-3 Rule': one hour for reds (in the fridge before you open), two hours for white wines, and three hours for sparkling wines (which taste best cold).”
Courtesy of Clayton Winehouse
2021 Luigi Giordano Langhe Rosso / Piedmont, Italy / Grapes: Nebbiolo, Arnies / $19.99
“A blend of 90 percent Nebbiolo (red) and 10 percent Arneis (white), it is co-fermented. It is both light-bodied and refreshing while producing bright cherry notes that will complement all of the traditional Thanksgiving fixin's!” —Chris Kolemainen, Clayton Winehouse, Clayton
2017 Spann Vineyards “Betsy’s Backacher” / California / Grapes: Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc / $16.99
“This is a really fun red blend that mimics the melting pot of America with so many grapes in the mix. It’s soft and juicy, with moderate tannins and a long finish, and perfect with a traditional holiday spread.” —John Nash, Starr’s, Richmond Heights
Courtesy of Grapevine Wines
2021 Torbreck "Juveniles" Red Blend / Barossa Valley / Grapes: Grenache, Mataro, Carignan, Counousie, Syrah / $25.99
“Nothing says 'Big Personality' like the founder of Torbreck, an Australian who became a lumberjack before turning to winemaking. An Aussie version of a classic Rhône Red Blend, it's packed full of dark berries, rich black fruits, and subtle spices. It's perfect for pairing with big, boisterous families!” —Aaron Sherman, Grapevine Wines, Kirkwood
REDS: Savory or Earthy
Courtesy of 33 Wine Shop & Bar
2021 Laurent Family Vineyard / “Inocente,” Valle de Maipo, Chile / Grape: Carménère / $17.99
“This organic, natural Carmenere has good fruit, but it's also a little spicy, making it a good pairing with oven-roasted turkey and the rest of your holiday table dishes.” —James Smallwood, 33 Wine Shop & Bar, Lafayette Square
2020 Thymiopoulos “Young Vines” / Naoussa, Greece / Grape: Xinomarvo / $20 (on the shelf)
“I love this wine because it has a great fruit profile: strawberry rhubarb and amber musk. Great acid and tannin structure make it a great food wine. It’s light enough to pair well with your turkey and cranberry sauce. Plus it’s something unique and interesting to bring to the table.” —Kara Flaherty, The Cellar Shop at Winslow’s Table, University City
Courtesy of Grapevine Wines
2019 Assuli "Lorlando” / Sicily, Italy / Grape: Nero D’Avola / $22.99
“It's beautifully balanced, with subtle and evocative notes of earth and spices. The blackberry tones of this sumptuous wine will pair brilliantly with the cornucopia of flavors on the Thanksgiving table, whether it is the classic turkey or pasta and meatballs. It's not too heavy, not too light, not too earthy, not too fruity—it's a true Goldilocks wine.” —Aaron Sherman, Grapevine Wines, Kirkwood
Denise Mueller is a St. Louis–based certified sommelier and certified specialist of wine. She owns the Mid-American School of Wine and the wine course PreSomm, with wine books and wine courses available at PreSomm.com.
